Electric time-switch.



PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

M A. NIGKERSON. ELECTRIC TIME swrrcn. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1903.

.110 MODEL UNITED STATES PATENT Patented May 12, 1903.

OFFICE.

ELECTRIC iv E-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,828, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed January 28,1903 eerie- N0. 140,920. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, MYRoN A. N ICKERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing atCanton, in the county of St. Lawrence and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Automatic Electric Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in electric time-switches, and has for its principal object to provide an improved form of switch operable by a clock-train for opening and closing electric circuits for any purpose, being especially applicable to lighting-circuits of-different character or for the operation of igniting devices, time-alarms, and like purposes, where it is desired to hold a circuit closed for a predetermined length of time or to open or close a circuit at any desired time.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a time-switch of this character in which provision is made for adjusting the position of the movement of the switch member in order to retain the circuit open or closed for a greater or less period of time, and a still further object of the invention is to provide for the more ready connection of the stationary members of theswitch to the conductingwires of the circuit in which the lamp or other device to be actuated is connected.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construct-ion and arrangement. of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims, it

.being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the ad vantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of an automatic time-switch, constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3 30f Fig. 2. Fig. 4

is a perspective view of the movable contact member of slightly-modified construction.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

'the arbor, as shown more clearly in Fig.

switch is to perform.

In the drawings, 1 designates asupportingframe provided with suitable bearings for the reception of the several members of a clocktrain 2, which receives power from a spring 3 or equivalent driving member and is provided with a governor-tly 4 of the ordinary construction.

One of the arbors 5 of the clock-train lS'BX- tended out through one of the frame members and is threaded at its outer end for the reception of a threaded opening formed in the lower end of a binding-post 6. This binding-post, which carries the movable switch member, hereinafter referred to, is electrically connected to a current-conducti ng wire 7 through the frame and arbor.

To the frame is secured a disk 8, formed of vulcanized fiber, rubber, or other suitable insulating material and provided with acentral opening for the passage of the arbor 5, and the disk also carries a sleeve 9, formed of insulating material and extending around the outer end of the sleeve being in contact with the inner end of the binding-post and I serving to insulate the latter from the stationary cont-act members carried by the sleeve and disk. To the sleeve are secured a number of contacts 10 in the form of arcuate metallic plates properly insulated from each other by the material which forms the sleeve and arranged somewhat after the manner of a commutator, the width of the various conftact devices and their members being dependent on the character of work which the The base portion on each contact member is extended out at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and is rigidly secured to the insulating-disk 8, the outer end of each member extending beyond the peripheral line of the disk and being preferably reduced in width, in order that it may more conveniently be secured to a line-wire 12. In the present instance I have illustrated four separate contact devices each connected to a separate wire; but it will be understood that the number of these may be increased or diminished or that the width of the contacts or the spaces between adjacent contacts may be altered in accordance with the length of time for which the circuit or circuits are to be opened or closed.

The binding-post 6 is provided near its outer end with a transversely-disposed opening let, whichis preferably widened'at diametrically opposite points, as shown in Fig. 3, said opening being adapted for the reception of the adjustable arm of the movable switch member 16. The outer end of the binding-post is provided with a longitudinallydisposed threaded opening 17 for the reception of a binding or clamping screw 18,whic"n engages the arm 15 and holds the latter in any position to which it may be adjusted. The outer endof the arm 15 is bent at a right angle, and to this right-angled member are secured by solder or other suitable securing means the opppsite arms of a U -shaped switch member, of, which the cross-arm is preferably rounded for the reception of a contact-roller 19, the latter being held in engagement with the contact devices on the periphery of the sleeve and being forced thereagainst by the spring-arms which form the U-shaped rollersupporting member.

The construction of the movable contact may be simplified by forming the same of a simple bent plate or brush 19, as shown in Fig. 4.

In the operation of the device the arbor in rotating turns the binding-post and the rotative movement is transmitted to the revoluble switch member traveling over the several stationarycontact-plates and closing the circuit through the several plates and the line-Wires to which they are attached. WVhen it becomes necessary to lengthen or shorten the contact time between the movable switch member and in one of the stationary members, the binding-screw is loosened and the arm 15 slightly turned in either direction in the slotted portion of the binding-post and then clamped by the screw in its turned position, and as the arbor is designed to be turned at comparatively slow speed this operation may be performed during the movement of the clockwork.

The device may be applied to circuits of any character and used either for lighting, alarm, igniting, or other purposes or may be employed in connection with advertising-signs or the like, and the clock mechanism may be constructed to rotate the movable switch member at any desired speed without departing from the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is v 1. 'The coi'nbination with a clock-train, including a revoluble arbor, of a revoluble switch member carried by the arbor, a disk and a sleeve both formed of insulating material and surrounding a portion of the arbor, contacts carried by the disk and sleeve and having portions of their length curved to conform to the contour of the sleeve, these portions being: engaged successively by therevolv'ing switch member, and electric circuits of which the contact-plates and the revolving switch members form terminals; I

The combination With a clock-trainim cluding an arbor, of a binding-post secured to said arbor and slotted for the reception of a revolving switch member, a revolving switch member adjustable with respect to the binding-post, means for clamping the switch member to the binding-post, an insulatingsleeve surrounding a portion of the arbor, and stationary contact devices carried by the sleeve and arranged for successive engagement by the revolving switch member.

3. The combination with a clock-train, including an arbor, of a binding-post secured to the outer end of the arbor, an insulatingsleeve surrounding a portion of the arbor, a disk disposed at the base of the sleeve, contacts having portions curved to conform to the contour of the sleeve and having integral portions extending radially of the disk and projecting beyond the periphery of said disk, current-conducting Wires secured to the projecting ends of said contacts, a current-conducting wire electrically connected to the arbor and binding-post, an arm adjustably secured at one end to the binding-post and having its opposite end bent into a plane approximately parallel with that of the axis of the arbor, a U-shaped roller-supporting member having its opposite ends secured to the bent portion of the arm, and a roller carried by said U shaped member and engaging the contact-plates on the peripheral portion of the insulating-sleeve, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MYRON A. NIGKERSON.

W'itnesses:

WORTH CHAMBERLAIN, MA'UDE H. COLLINS. 

